What is the best stuff to use in fall/winter for large mouth bass

Question

FishGPT · Accepted Answer

Fall and winter bass fishing boils down to dialing in slower, more deliberate presentations and targeting deeper structure as the water cools. Here’s a practical, mid-fall friendly playbook to keep you catching when temps dip.

**Core lures for fall/winter**
- **Lipless crankbaits** (1/4–3/4 oz): Perfect for covering water quickly along weedlines, points, and creek channels. Use a steady, feel-the-bottom retrieve with occasional short pauses to tempt cold fish. 
- **Football jigs** (3/8–1/2 oz) with a craw trailer: A fall staple for hugging bottom along ledges, brush, and drop-offs. Slow drag or hop-tap retrieves work best as temps drop.
- **Swimbaits** (4–5 in) on a light jig head: Slow-rolled along deeper edges or along brush to imitate the last shad/bluegill pattern. 
- **Soft plastics for finesse**: 5–6 inch worms, creature baits, and fluke-style plastics work well around docks, laydowns, and pockets in stained water.
- **Jerkbaits and suspending hard baits**: For clear water stretches where you can see shad, a small suspending jerkbait can trigger a strike from opportunistic bass.
- **Dropshot and Neko rigs**: In deeper, clear water (25–40 ft), these deliver a precise, slow presentation that bass in cold water still bite when fished patiently.

**Seasonal approach (mid fall emphasis)**
- Fall days can flip quickly with fronts. Start with faster-moving baits to locate active fish, then slow way down as fronts pass or water cools. 
- The goal is to keep your lure in the bass’s comfort zone: near structure, bait schools, and the deeper edge of weedlines.
- In deeper, clearer pockets, move to finesse tactics first; in stained or warmer pockets, use natural to-chartreuse accents to draw bites.

**Where to fish (structure to target)**
- Points and creek channels dropping into deeper water.
- Inside weedlines with open pockets and along brush piles.
- Dock seams and bridge pilings where bait schools congregate.

**Rods, reels, and line (cold-water gear tips)**
- Use fluorocarbon line (12–15 lb) for most plastics and jigs; consider heavier line (15–20 lb) if you’re fishing around structure.
- For jigs and big plastics, a 7’ MH to MH+ rod helps drive through cover; for finesse dropshot, go lighter (6’6”–7’ M).
- If you’re fishing heavy cover or brush, braid with a fluorocarbon leader can help with sensitivity and abrasion resistance.

**Color and presentation tips**
- Clear water: natural colors (green pumpkin, watermelon, pumpkinseed).
- Stained water: add a chartreuse or lime accent to plastics or jigs to help attract bites.
- Retrieve cadence: mix steady rolls with occasional pauses; in the post-front windows, shorten the pause and tighten the sequence so bass feel the lure in the strike zone longer.

**Quick action plan you can try this week**
- Start with lipless crankbait along deeper weed edges and points (1–2 casts per patch); if no bites after 5–7 casts, switch to a football jig on the nearby drop.
- If water is clear and I see suspected tight-lipped fish, switch to dropshot or a small 4–6 inch worm on a light jighead; fish it slow with minimal lift.
- Move through different depths on a single spot to locate the thermocline or bait depth; once you find active fish, stay with them and vary your lure until you get multiple bites.

Want a quick visual on a pattern you can apply? check these helpful resources:
- [Strategic Angling: The Big Blade Chatterbait guide](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTbr3lf2iHg)
- [Kayak Bass Fishing: Lingo and patterns for bass from a kayak](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEQTm2-g-rA)

Gear picks you can grab to get started (real-world options):
- [PLUSINNO Fishing Rod and Reel Combos](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07FVL7NK2?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [Ugly Stik Dock Runner Combo](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0BSR4HDPR?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)
- [Shakespeare Ugly Stik 7’ Elite Spinning Rod](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QJ4IE6S?tag=tacklenet-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1)

Seasonal reality check: mid fall can be a mix of warm spells and cooling fronts. Stay flexible, keep moving until you see a bite, and then lock in your pattern. You’ve got this—the bass are still hungry and right on schedule for a late-season break if you stay patient and precise. 🎣💪

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